Tijjani Reijnders handed the host the lead with just a minute and 39 seconds on the clock, only for Deniz Undav and Joshua Kimmich to respond before the break. 

Netherlands drew level five minutes into the second half through Denzel Dumfries, leaving the pair joint-top of Group A3 after the opening two matchdays. 

Germany wants to be a strong contender at the next World Cup after its Euro 2024 disappointment, when it was eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual champion Spain.

Nagelsmann is seeking improvements in every match, despite the tournament being just under two years away. 

"There is an awareness that every game is important," he said. "We have the Nations League now, the qualifiers next year and then, hopefully, off to the World Cup. We have 18 games left until then - if all goes well.

"The team believes in itself and that is the key. That is what we all want to see. Today, we saw a team that wanted to win."

But in an enthralling encounter, Nagelsmann acknowledged that improvements need to be made at both ends of the pitch. 

"Both defences were too vulnerable but offensively, we were stronger, tried to create more and took a bit more risk," he said. 

"In the early stages of the second half, we tried a little too hard and were maybe a bit too aggressive in the tackles."

The Germany manager was particularly pleased with his side's response to falling behind early on Reijnders's finish. 

"The way we came back was very good. It took us five or six minutes, but then we were well in the game," Nagelsmann said.

Germany continues its Nations League campaign with two away fixtures next month, playing Bosnia-Herzegovina before a reunion with the Dutch on 14 October.